The country's weather has reached an odd crossroads. On one side, people scorched by the summer heat are waiting impatiently for monsoon rain, and on the other, the sky is ready to deliver relief and trouble together. The latest warning from the weather department (IMD) says that within the next 24 to 72 hours, 19 states could face heavy rain, lightning strikes and winds gusting up to 90 kilometres per hour. The monsoon has not fully arrived in big states like Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Madhya Pradesh, yet a dangerous spell of storms is about to begin even before it does.
This year the monsoon has behaved unusually. The southwest monsoon crawled forward in many regions and then, in some pockets, suddenly turned active and poured down heavily. That uneven pace has brought both relief and worry. At present, a rain-bearing trough at sea level stretches from north Rajasthan to Bihar. Alongside it, several cyclonic circulations are active over the Bay of Bengal, north Bihar, north Gujarat, Lakshadweep and northwest Uttar Pradesh. That is why the weather is shifting so rapidly across different corners of the country.
Where the monsoon will push ahead
Over the coming days, the monsoon is likely to advance across parts of Gujarat, Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. But intense weather activity will travel with it. Several areas of Jammu and Kashmir are also under an alert for heavy rain and storms.
Where the June 24 alerts apply
For June 24, a warning of heavy rain and thunderstorms has been issued for 19 states, including Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Jammu and Kashmir, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and Kerala. The risk of lightning hangs over many areas. Farmers, people living along rivers and fishermen have been advised to take special care, as the weather could turn suddenly in some places and create serious conditions at the local level.
Steady rain in Mumbai and Tamil Nadu
The monsoon is now fully active in Mumbai and the Konkan region. Mumbai recorded rain for the third day running, and moderate to heavy rain is likely in the days ahead. The Konkan will keep seeing rain with thunder and lightning, with bursts of heavy showers at several spots and winds expected at 40 to 50 kilometres per hour. Meanwhile, several districts of Tamil Nadu are also likely to get moderate to heavy rain over the next two days.
Relief with an alert for Delhi-NCR
People in Delhi-NCR are set to get relief from the muggy heat soon. A warning of heavy rain and strong squalls has been issued for June 24 and 25, when winds could blow at 60 to 70 kilometres per hour. Delhi's maximum temperature is expected to hover around 38 degrees Celsius and the minimum near 31 degrees Celsius. Strong winds raise the risk of falling trees and traffic disruption. Several districts of Haryana will also feel the storm and rain.
Uttar Pradesh faces 90 KMPH squalls
Uttar Pradesh sits at the centre of this warning. An alert for heavy rain and storms has been issued for Gautam Buddh Nagar, Meerut, Ghaziabad, Muzaffarnagar, Agra, Mathura, Kanpur, Varanasi, Prayagraj, Gorakhpur and many other districts. At some spots, winds could reach 80 to 90 kilometres per hour. Lucknow's maximum temperature is expected to climb to 40 degrees Celsius.
Lightning danger in Bihar
In Bihar, a warning for heavy rain and storms has been issued for Gaya, Bhojpur, Siwan, Vaishali, Samastipur, Madhubani, Purnia, Saharsa, Supaul and Bhagalpur, among other districts, between June 24 and 27. Winds here could blow at 50 to 55 kilometres per hour. Given the lightning strikes, people have been advised to stay away from open spaces.
Thundery downpours in Jharkhand
Ranchi, Dhanbad, Deoghar, Giridih, Bokaro, Dumka and Jamshedpur, along with several other districts, are under an alert for heavy rain and storms on June 24 and 25. Winds here could reach 70 to 75 kilometres per hour. Ranchi's maximum temperature is expected at 34 degrees Celsius and the minimum at 24 degrees Celsius.
Stormy mood in West Bengal
Heavy rain and strong winds are likely in Birbhum, Jhargram, Howrah, Hooghly, Murshidabad and Kalimpong in West Bengal. Winds could blow at 70 to 75 kilometres per hour, and the risk of lightning will linger across many parts of the state.
Welcome rain amid Rajasthan's heat
An alert for rain and storms has been issued for Jaipur, Ajmer, Udaipur, Bharatpur, Sikar, Bundi and Bhilwara, among other districts. Winds here could reach 60 to 70 kilometres per hour. Jaipur's maximum temperature is likely to stay at 37 degrees Celsius.
Madhya Pradesh awaits the monsoon
A warning of rain and strong winds has been issued for Bhopal, Vidisha, Dhar, Ujjain, Mandsaur, Morena and Katni, among other districts. Winds could reach 70 to 75 kilometres per hour, and the weather department believes monsoon activity in the state will pick up further over the next few days.
